Semiconductor memory device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell; a sense amplifier for amplifying data read out from the memory cell; and a first to a third latch circuit connected in parallel with the sense amplifier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device.

[0002]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a conventional synchronous type semiconductor memory device (SDRAM). As shown in FIG. 11, the conventional synchronous type semiconductor memory device includes: a clock buffer 1; a command decoder 2; an address buffer 3; a refresh counter 4; a control signal generator 5; a mode register 6; a memory unit 7; and a DQ buffer 8. The memory unit 7 includes: a memory cell array CA; a column decoder CD; a row decoder RD; and a sense amplifier SA.

[0003] The synchronous type semiconductor memory device having the configuration as described above operates in response to a clock signal, a command, and an address supplied externally. More specifically, the synchronous type semiconductor memory device reads out and writes data from and to the memory cell array CA via the DQ buffer 8 in synchronism with an internal clock signal int.clk generated on the basis of the clock signal.

[0004]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit 15 included in the memory unit 7 of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 12 also shows: the memory cell array CA formed with a memory cell MC connected to a bit line BL or a complementary bit line /BL; the sense amplifier SA; a reading and writing gate RWG connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA between the bit line pair; and an input-output port IOP formed by a reading and writing bus connected to the reading and writing gate RWG.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 12, the conventional data latch unit 15 is connected in series with the sense amplifier SA via a gate G, and includes a latch circuit LC and a reading gate RG. An output port OP is connected to the reading gate RG.

[0006] In the conventional synchronous type semiconductor memory device having the configuration as described above, read data amplified by the sense amplifier SA is transferred to the latch circuit LC via the gate G and then stored in the latch circuit LC. Thus, even after other data is read out from the memory cell array CA, the data stored in the latch circuit LC can be read independently.

[0007] However, when read data is transferred to the latch circuit LC as described above, the read data always needs to be amplified by the sense amplifier SA. Therefore access to the memory cell array CA is interrupted, and data outputted to the sense amplifier SA is destroyed. Thus, when the data outputted to the sense amplifier SA is desired to be used, the data needs to be outputted to the sense amplifier SA again after completion of the operation of transfer to the latch circuit LC. Furthermore, new access to the memory cell array CA during this period is impossible. Therefore efficiency of read data output is greatly decreased.

[0008] In other words, the operation of reading data from the memory cell array CA and the operation of data transfer to the latch circuit LC are not completely independent of each other; therefore when the transfer operation is given higher priority, efficient reading operation cannot be performed, whereas when efficient reading operation is given higher priority, the transfer to the latch circuit LC cannot be effected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve problems as described above, and it is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor memory device that increases speed and efficiency of data processing.

[0010] The object of the present invention is achieved by providing a semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell; amplifying means for amplifying data read out from the memory cell; and a plurality of memory means connected in parallel with the amplifying means.

[0011] With such means, since the plurality of memory means are connected in parallel with the amplifying means, memory means other than memory means to which the data amplified by the amplifying means is transferred can be accessed regardless of operation of the amplifying means.

[0012] The semiconductor memory device in this case further comprises data input and output means connected to at least two of the plurality of memory means, for selectively inputting and outputting data between at least the two of the plurality of memory means and an exterior of the semiconductor memory device. Thus, a multiport semiconductor memory device on a reduced circuit scale can be obtained.

[0013] The semiconductor memory device further comprises a bit line and a complementary bit line connected to the memory cell and the amplifying means. When each of the plurality of memory means is connected to the bit line and the complementary bit line, it is possible to increase speed of reading and writing data from and to the memory means and increase reliability of data stored in the memory means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit included in the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing components of the data latch unit shown in FIG. 2;

[0017]FIGS. 4A to 4Q are timing charts of data reading operation of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1;

[0018]FIGS. 5A to 5M are timing charts of normal writing operation of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1;

[0019]FIGS. 6A to 6M are timing charts of operation when the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1 writes only to a first latch circuit;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit included in the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 7;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a conventional synchronous type semiconductor memory device; and

[0025]FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit included in the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or corresponding parts.

[0027] [First Embodiment]

[0028]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes: a clock buffer 1; a command decoder 2; an address buffer 3; a refresh counter 4; a mode register 6; a control signal generator 9; a memory unit 10; and a first to a third input-output port IOP1 to IOP3. The memory unit 10 includes a memory cell array CA formed by dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a column decoder CD, a row decoder RD, a sense amplifier SA, and a first to a third latch circuit LC1 to LC3.

[0029] The clock buffer 1 generates an internal clock signal int.clk in response to a clock signal supplied thereto externally, and then supplies the internal clock signal int.clk to the command decoder 2, the address buffer 3, the refresh counter 4, the mode register 6, the control signal generator 9, and the first to the third input-output port IOP1 to IOP3.

[0030] The command decoder 2 is supplied with a command. The address buffer 3 is supplied with an address (a row address and a column address). The refresh counter 4 generates an internal address during refresh operation, and supplies the internal address to the address buffer 3. The mode register 6 is connected to the address buffer 3. The control signal generator 9 generates an internal control signal in response to a command supplied from the command decoder 2. The memory unit 10 is connected to the address buffer 3 and the control signal generator 9. The first input-output port IOP1 is connected to the first latch circuit LC1; the second input-output port IOP2 is connected to the second latch circuit LC2; and the third input-output port IOP3 is connected to the third latch circuit LC3.

[0031] In the synchronous type semiconductor memory device having the above configuration, the memory unit 10 is controlled by an internal control signal generated by the control signal generator 9, and a memory cell specified by an address supplied to the address buffer 3 is accessed. The first to third input-output ports IOP1 to IOP3 input and output data DQ1 to DQ3 in synchronism with the internal clock signal int.clk.

[0032]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit 25 included in the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the data latch unit 25 is connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA, and includes a first to a third latch circuit LC1 to LC3. The first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 are connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA. Specifically, the first latch circuit LC1 is connected to a bit line BL via a gate G1 formed by an N-channel MOS transistor; the second latch circuit LC2 is connected to the bit line BL via a gate G2 formed by an N-channel MOS transistor; and the third latch circuit LC3 is connected to the bit line BL via a gate G3 formed by an N-channel MOS transistor.

[0033] Further, a first reading and writing gate RWG1 is connected in parallel with the first latch circuit LC1; a second reading and writing gate RWG2 is connected in parallel with the second latch circuit LC2; and a third reading and writing gate RWG3 is connected in parallel with the third latch circuit LC3.

[0034] Further, the first input-output port IOP1 is connected to the first latch circuit LC1 via the first reading and writing gate RWG1; the second input-output port IOP2 is connected to the second latch circuit LC2 via the second reading and writing gate RWG2; and the third input-output port IOP3 is connected to the third latch circuit LC3 via the third reading and writing gate RWG3.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of assistance in explaining components of the data latch unit 25 shown in FIG. 2. It is to be noted that while FIG. 3 shows only components corresponding to the first latch circuit LC1, the data latch unit 25 includes similar components in correspondence with each of the second latch circuit LC2 and the third latch circuit LC3.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, the first latch circuit LC1 includes two inverters INV1 and INV2, and the first reading and writing gate RWG1 includes N-channel MOS transistors NT1 to NT6. Gates of the N-channel MOS transistors NT3 and NT5 are supplied with a signal YR0, whereas gates of the N-channel MOS transistors NT1 and NT6 are supplied with a signal YW0.

[0037] Operation of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device having the above configuration according to the first embodiment will be described in the following. First, an operation of outputting data stored in a memory cell to the first and second input-output ports IOP1 and IOP2 in response to a command supplied to the command decoder will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4Q.

[0038] When a command ACT0 is supplied to the command decoder 2 and a row address RA0 is supplied to the address buffer 3 at a time T1 as shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, a word line WL0 is activated to a high level (H) and data stored in the memory cell is outputted to the bit line pair BL and /BL, as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4I.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 4G, 4H, and 4I, sense amplifier starting signals SAH and SAL are activated, whereby the data outputted to the bit line pair BL and /BL is amplified. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4J, a transfer signal ST1 is activated to a high level (H), whereby the gate GI is opened. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4K, the data amplified by the sense amplifier SA is transferred to the first latch circuit LC1. Then the transfer signal ST1 is deactivated to a low level (L), whereby the gate G1 is closed. The bit line pair BL and /BL and the first latch circuit LC1 are electrically disconnected from each other.

[0040] Thus, the bit line pair BL and /BL returns to a standby state. Further, in the example shown in FIGS. 4A to 4Q, a command ACT1 is supplied to the command decoder 2 and a row address RA1 is supplied to the address buffer 3 at a time T7. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 4F, 4I, and 4M, as a result of a similar operation to that described above, data stored in a memory cell connected to a word line WL1 is amplified and then transferred to the second latch circuit LC2 via the gate G2. Then, as shown in FIG. 4L, a transfer signal ST2 is deactivated to a low level (L), whereby the gate G2 is closed. The bit line pair BL and /BL and the second latch circuit LC2 are electrically disconnected from each other.

[0041] In a period in which the data is transferred to the second latch circuit LC2 as described above, the data transfer to the first latch circuit LC1 is completed, and therefore the data stored in the first latch circuit LC1 can be read. For example, when a read command RD0 is supplied to the command decoder 2 and a column address CA0 is supplied to the address buffer 3 at a time T9 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4D, a signal YR0 is activated to a high level as shown in FIG. 4N, and data D0 stored in the first latch circuit LC1 is read via the first input-output port IOP1 as shown in FIGS. 4K and 4O. Thus, it is possible to read data from a latch circuit where data transfer is already completed, irrespective of and independently of the operation of reading data from the memory cell array CA.

[0042]FIGS. 4B, 4D, 4M, 4P, and 4Q show an operation of supplying a read command RD1 to the command decoder 2 and a column address CA1 to the address buffer 3 at a time T13 after the completion of the data transfer to the second latch circuit LC2 and thereby reading data D1 stored in the second latch circuit LC2 via the second input-output port IOP2.

[0043] Normal writing operation will next be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5M. First, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, at a time T1, a command ACT is supplied to the command decoder 2 and a row address RA is supplied to the address buffer 3, whereby the memory unit 10 is activated. Then, as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5D, when a write command WT is supplied to the command decoder 2 and a column address CA is supplied to the address buffer 3 at a time T5, a signal YW0 is activated to a high level, and thereby input data D0 is written to the first latch circuit LC1 via the first input-output port IOP1 and the first reading and writing gate RWG1, as shown in FIGS. 5J to 5M.

[0044] When a precharge command PRE is thereafter inputted to the command decoder 2 at a time T9 as shown in FIG. 5B, the input data D0 stored in the first latch circuit LC1 is outputted to the bit line pair BL and /BL as shown in FIGS. 5H and 5J. Thus, the input data D0 is written to a memory cell forming the memory cell array CA.

[0045] When data is to be written only to the first latch circuit LC1 in the above operation, the data may be directly written to the first latch circuit LC1 before activating the memory unit 10. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6M, a write command WT may be supplied without a command ACT being supplied to the command decoder 2. Also in this case, a similar operation to that shown in FIGS. 5A to 5M can be realized.

[0046] As described above, with the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the data latch unit 25 for reading and writing data is provided independently of the sense amplifier SA, the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 are connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA, and the first to third input-output ports IOP1 to IOP3 are provided in correspondence with the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3, respectively. Therefore a multiport synchronous type semiconductor memory device can be readily obtained.

[0047] Since the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 can be accessed independently of each other via the first to third input-output ports IOP1 to IOP3, when data read out from the memory cell array CA is selectively transferred to one of the latch circuits, access to latch circuits other than the latch circuit to which the data is being transferred is not blocked. It is thus possible to access latch circuits where transfer of the data is completed even during transfer of other data, and to thereby increase data transfer efficiency.

[0048] For increased data transfer efficiency, conventional techniques of providing a plurality of banks and accessing the plurality of banks in two ways are devised. A semiconductor memory device employing such a so-called bank system has a problem of a complex circuit of a control system and hence increased circuit scale. On the other hand, by providing a plurality of latch circuits connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA as described above instead of the banks, high-speed data input and output between the latch circuits and the outside thereof can be realized with a simpler configuration.

[0049] Further, data to be written to a memory cell can be stored in the first to the third latch circuit LC1 to LC3 connected in parallel with the sense amplifier SA before the memory cell array CA is activated. Therefore, application of the memory unit 10 can be widened.

[0050] Further, the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment reads and writes data from and to the memory cell array CA via the latch circuits connected with the input-output ports at all times. Hence, it is possible to access a memory cell from the plurality of ports under the same conditions, and thus realize complex functions.

[0051] [Second Embodiment]

[0052]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a similar configuration to that of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is different from the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that a second input-output port IOP2 is connected to a second latch circuit LC2 and a third latch circuit LC3, and thereby the second input-output port IOP2 is shared by the second latch circuit LC2 and the third latch circuit LC3.

[0053] Since the port is shared as described above, a memory unit 20 and a control signal generator 19 are different from the memory unit 10 and the control signal generator 9, respectively, in the first embodiment.

[0054]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit 35 included in the synchronous type semiconductor memory device shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, though the data latch unit 35 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a similar configuration to that of the data latch unit 25 shown in FIG. 2, a second reading and writing gate RWG2 is connected in series with the second latch circuit LC2 via a gate G4 and connected in series with the third latch circuit LC3 via a gate G5.

[0055] The gates G4 and G5 are each formed by an N-channel MOS transistor. A gate of the N-channel MOS transistor forming the gate G4 is supplied with a data selection signal DS1, whereas a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor forming the gate G5 is supplied with a data selection signal DS2. The data selection signals DS1 and DS2 are generated by the control signal generator 19.

[0056] In the synchronous type semiconductor memory device having the above configuration according to the second embodiment, the data selection signal DS1 is activated to a high level to thereby open the gate G4, whereby data is selectively read out from or written to the second latch circuit LC2 via the second reading and writing gate RWG2 and the second input-output port IOP2. Similarly, when the data selection signal DS2 is activated to a high level, the gate G5 is opened, whereby data is selectively read out from or written to the third latch circuit LC3 via the second reading and writing gate RWG2 and the second input-output port IOP2.

[0057] As described above, the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a similar configuration to that of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the foregoing first embodiment, and a reading and writing gate and an input-output port are shared by a plurality of latch circuits. Thus, a multiport synchronous type semiconductor memory device on a reduced circuit scale can be obtained.

[0058] [Third Embodiment]

[0059]FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit 45 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, though the data latch unit 45 according to the third embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the data latch unit 25 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the data latch unit 45 according to the third embodiment is different from the data latch unit 25 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that a first latch circuit LC1 and a first reading and writing gate RWG1 are connected to a sense amplifier SA via a gate G6; a second latch circuit LC2 and a second reading and writing gate RWG2 are connected to the sense amplifier SA via a gate G7; and a third latch circuit LC3 and a third reading and writing gate RWG3 are connected to the sense amplifier SA via a gate G8.

[0060] The gates G6 to G8 are each formed by an N-channel MOS transistor. A gate of the N-channel MOS transistor forming the gate G6 is supplied with a transfer signal ST1; a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor forming the gate G7 is supplied with a transfer signal ST2; and a gate of the N-channel MOS transistor forming the gate G8 is supplied with a transfer signal ST3.

[0061] The synchronous type semiconductor memory device as described above according to the third embodiment of the present invention has similar effects to those of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the foregoing first embodiment. In addition, since the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 and the first to third reading and writing gates are each connected not only to a bit line BL but also to a complementary bit line /BL, it is possible to write data to the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 more reliably, and read and write data from and to the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 at a higher speed.

[0062] [Fourth Embodiment]

[0063]FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a data latch unit 55 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, though the data latch unit 55 according to the fourth embodiment has a similar configuration to that of the data latch unit 45 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the data latch unit 55 according to the fourth embodiment is different from the data latch unit 45 according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 9 in that a first latch circuit LC1 and a first reading and writing gate RWG1 are connected to a sense amplifier SA via transmission gates TG1 and TG4; a second latch circuit LC2 and a second reading and writing gate RWG2 are connected to the sense amplifier SA via transmission gates TG2 and TG5; and a third latch circuit LC3 and a third reading and writing gate RWG3 are connected to the sense amplifier SA via transmission gates TG3 and TG6.

[0064] The transmission gates TG1 to TG6 are each formed by an N-channel MOS transistor and a P-channel MOS transistor connected in parallel with each other. Gates of both the transistors forming the transmission gates TG1 and TG4, respectively, are supplied with a transfer signal ST1; gates of both the transistors forming the transmission gates TG2 and TG5, respectively, are supplied with a transfer signal ST2; and gates of both the transistors forming the transmission gates TG3 and TG6, respectively, are supplied with a transfer signal ST3.

[0065] The synchronous type semiconductor memory device as described above according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has similar effects to those of the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the foregoing third embodiment. In addition, since the synchronous type semiconductor memory device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a configuration obtained by replacing the gates G1 to G3 and G6 to G8 with the transmission gates TG1 to TG6, it is possible to further increase the speed of data transfer between the first to third latch circuits LC1 to LC3 and the sense amplifier SA.

[0066] It is to be noted that while in the foregoing embodiments, description has been made of cases where the present invention is applied to synchronous type semiconductor memory devices, the present invention is not limited to synchronous type semiconductor memory devices, and is widely applicable to semiconductor memory devices.

[0067] With a semiconductor memory device according to the present invention, memory means other than memory means to which data amplified by amplifying means is transferred can be accessed regardless of operation of the amplifying means. It is therefore possible to increase speed and efficiency of data processing with a simple configuration. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell; amplifying means for amplifying data read out from said memory cell; and a plurality of memory means connected in parallel with said amplifying means.
 2. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of data input and output means arranged in correspondence to each of said plurality of memory means, respectively, for inputting and outputting data between said memory means and an exterior of said semiconductor memory device.
 3. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said data input and output means input and output said data in synchronism with an internal clock signal.
 4. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising data input and output means connected to at least two of said plurality of memory means, for selectively inputting and outputting data between said at least two said memory means and an exterior of said semiconductor memory device.
 5. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said data input and output means inputs and outputs said data in synchronism with an internal clock signal.
 6. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bit line and a complementary bit line connected to said memory cell and said amplifying means, wherein each of said plurality of memory means is connected to said bit line and said complementary bit line.
 7. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of data input and output means arranged in correspondence to each of said plurality of memory means, respectively, for inputting and outputting data between said memory means and an exterior of said semiconductor memory device.
 8. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of data transfer means connected between each of said plurality of memory means and said amplifying means, for transferring data in predetermined timing.
 9. A semiconductor memory device as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said plurality of data transfer means includes a transmission gate that is formed by connecting an N-channel MOS transistor and a P-channel MOS transistor in parallel with each other.
 10. A semiconductor memory device comprising: a memory cell; amplifying means for amplifying data read out from said memory cell; a plurality of memory means connected in parallel with said amplifying means; first data input and output means arranged in correspondence to each of first memory means of said plurality of memory means, for inputting and outputting data between said first memory means and an exterior of said semiconductor memory device; and second data input and output means connected to at least two memory means of said plurality of memory means other than said first memory means, for selectively inputting and outputting data between said at least two memory means and said exterior. 